Manchester synagogue attack victims’ cause of death given at inquest

One of the victims of the Manchester synagogue attack died from a single gunshot wound, and the other from multiple stab wounds, an inquest has heard.

Melvin Cravitz, 66, and Adrian Daulby, 53, were killed in the attack at Heaton Park Hebrew Synagogue in Crumpsall on 2 October.

Father-of-three Mr Cravitz died from multiple knife wounds inflicted by terrorist Jihad al Shamie.

Mr Daulby, a member of the congregation, died from a single gunshot wound to the chest fired by an armed police officer scrambled to the scene, Manchester Coroner’s Court was told during a hearing as the inquests into the deaths of both men were opened and adjourned.

Mr Daulby, described as a “quiet hero”, had leaped from his seat to block the doors of the synagogue as it came under attack.

Police shot al Shamie dead seven minutes after the first emergency call as they feared he was wearing an explosive device – later identified as a fake.

The 35-year-old targeted the place of worship on Yom Kippur – the holy day of the year for Jews – driving his car at those gathering, before attacking others with a knife and trying to storm inside.

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Chief Superintendent Lewis Hughes of Greater Manchester Police told the hearing: “The offender exited the vehicle armed with a knife and immediately made stabbing motions to Mr Cravitz’s upper torso, head and neck area.”

Judge Alexia Durran, the chief coroner of England and Wales, presiding over the hearing, said her provisional findings were that Mr Cravitz died of stab wounds and Mr Daulby died of a gunshot wound.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct found no misconduct in the police response.

The hearing was adjourned for a pre-inquest review in February next year.

Bomb hoax

The inquest’s initial findings came on the day a man who made a “cruel and calculated” bomb hoax call to a synagogue in Leeds – just four days after the Manchester attack – was jailed for 10 months.

Leeds Crown Court was told on Wednesday that Markel Ible, 32, “intended to sow panic and fear” when he called Sinai Synagogue in Roundhay on 6 October, claiming to have left a bomb there that was due to go off the following day.